Warren (Wally) L. Wallace, 92, of Creswell, Oregon peacefully passed away on September 15, 2013 after suffering a stroke. Wally was born in Marshall, Texas, January 25, 1921 to Eugene Blocker and Willie Alice (Perry) Wallace.

He lived in East Texas and in Southern California in his early years. He went to work at the Marshall Creamery at age 14.

He joined the US Army in 1937, serving at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas where he was on the post boxing team. This was during the years of the Great Depression, and Wally was very happy to have employment. He joined the US Navy in 1940 where he trained for and became a Hospital Operating Room Technician. In 1941, WWII was escalating in Europe, forces were needed to protect Iceland from a German invasion. He was asked to go with an Expeditionary Marine Corps unit as one of their Navy Corpsman, because of his medical experience.

After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the Fleet Marine Forces were called home to train for service in the South Pacific. Wally served as a Corpsman with the Second Marine Division, “Island Hopping,” landing on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, and Tinian with the invading forces. He was promoted to Navy Chief in April 1945. Warren earned several medals, including the Bronze Star with V for Valor and the Presidential Unit Citation.

He served at the Navy Hospital in Guam after WWII. During the Korean War, he served with the Marine Air Wing in Korea and in Japan. Wally was an accredited Independent Duty Corpsman and served aboard small ships as the head of the Medical Department when no Medical Officer (Doctor) was assigned. He retired from the Navy in 1957.

After a short time as a Sanitation Inspector in Polson, Montana, he returned to his previous position at the Naval Weapons Center in Corona, California as a civilian. He was a Registered Sanitarian and also a Licensed Pest Control Operator.

He moved with his family to Sheridan, Wyoming in 1971 and worked at the VA Hospital there as the Assistant Chief of Hospital Management. In 1973, he returned to California where he became Assistant Chief of Hospital Management for the VA Hospital in Long Beach.

He retired from Civil Service in 1978, then pursued his interest in mechanics by studying Small Engine Repair and became a licensed Small Engine Repairman. He moved to Sweet Home, Oregon in 1980 where he operated Wallyʼs Small Engine Repair from his home. Some of the lawn mowers he repaired in the 80s may still be in operation.

Wally married Elizabeth Dillman Oberlin in 1952. He married Ardyce Riddle Rice in 1985.

Wally was a lifetime member of the VFW, a member of the American Legion, a member of the Northwest Chapter of the Second Marine Division Association, and a plank holder in the Navy Memorial, as well as other military organizations.

He is remembered by his family as a devoted father, an avid outdoorsman, and an accomplished fly fisherman. He taught his children to be self sufficient, often repairing cars and motorcycles and building go-carts. In later years, he told many stories of his war experiences to friends and family and especially grandchildren.

He is survived by: his wife, Ardyce; and by his children, Doug (Darcy) Wallace of So. Lake Tahoe, CA, Elizabeth (Ed) Ellers of Haverford, PA, David Wallace of Alaska, Ken (Jan) Rice of Salem, OR, Jim (Trina) Rice of Lowell, OR, Karla Burcham of Sweet Home, OR, Doreen (David) Chaput of Lebanon, OR, Jacob (Stephanie) Rice of Sweet Home, OR, Ronda (Greg) Denver of Sweet Home, OR.; 18 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; and brother, Bill Wallace of San Bernardino, CA.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; his first wife, Elizabeth; sister, Lucile Foster of CA.; and brother, Dan Wallace of IL.

Warren will be buried at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

A Committal Ceremony will be held there on Tuesday, September 24, at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Sweet Home VFW Post 3437 Building Fund, P O Box 295, Sweet Home, OR. 97386.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.